NHS take-home pay calculator
Your Agenda for Change band and pay point after income tax, National Insurance, NHS Pension and student loan, for England, Wales or Scotland in 2026/27.
Talks on reforming the Agenda for Change pay structure in England, Wales and Northern Ireland began in April 2026, and the NHS Staff Council says any agreement will be backdated to 1 April 2026. This calculator uses the published 2026/27 pay scales, so check for changes before you rely on it.
Method
How it works
- Step 1
Your pay point
Band, pay point and nation select the annual salary from the official pay scale, pro rata to your hours. - Step 2
Extras
Add the London High Cost Area Supplement and an estimate of unsocial hours payments if you work nights or weekends. - Step 3
Pension first
Your NHS Pension tier is set by your actual pensionable pay, and the whole of that pay is charged at the tier rate. - Step 4
Tax, NI, loan
Income tax on pay after pension, National Insurance and student loan on gross pay, then what is left each month.
Worked example
Band 5 entry in England, 2026/27
- 1Gross pay: Band 5 entry point£32,073
- 2NHS Pension at 8.3% (tier £28,855 to £35,155)−£2,662.06
- 3Taxable pay after pension£29,410.94
- 4Income tax: 20% of £16,840.94 above the £12,570 allowance−£3,368.19
- 5National Insurance: 8% of £19,503 above £12,570Worked out on gross pay, before the pension is taken off−£1,560.24
- 6Take-home pay for the year£24,482.51
Take-home pay a month
£2,040.21
£470.82 a week. 23.7% of gross pay goes in deductions.
The formula
How the calculator works it out
- 1Basic pay = the pay point for your band and nation × your hours ÷ full-time hours (37.5 in England and Wales, 36 in Scotland).
- 2High Cost Area Supplement (England) = the area's percentage of full-time basic pay, kept between its minimum and maximum, then pro rata to your hours. The NHS handbook gives part-time staff the same entitlements pro rata (Section 11.1).
- 3Hourly rate = full-time annual pay ÷ 52.143 ÷ full-time weekly hours. Unsocial hours payments = hourly rate × (night and Saturday hours × enhancement + Sunday and public holiday hours × enhancement) × 12. They are worked out on basic pay, without the supplement.
- 4Gross pay = basic + supplement + unsocial hours payments. All three are pensionable.
- 5NHS Pension = your tier rate × gross pay. The tier is set by actual pensionable pay, and the one rate applies to all of it. Scotland uses the SPPA Table 2 tiers for new starters and anyone whose pay changes; members continuing in a post are assessed on last year's pay against Table 1, which can give a slightly different rate.
- 6Taxable pay = gross pay − pension. Income tax is charged on taxable pay above the personal allowance of £12,570, which falls by £1 for every £2 over £100,000.
- 7National Insurance = 8% of gross pay between £12,570 and £50,270, plus 2% above £50,270. The pension is not taken off first.
- 8Student loan = the plan's rate × gross pay above its threshold. Take-home pay = gross pay − tax − National Insurance − pension − student loan.
Income tax 2026/27: England, Wales and Northern Ireland
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| Personal allowanceReduced by £1 for every £2 of income over £100,000 | Up to £12,570: 0%Reduced by £1 for every £2 of income over £100,000 |
| Basic rate | £12,571 to £50,270: 20% |
| Higher rate | £50,271 to £125,140: 40% |
| Additional rate | Over £125,140: 45% |
Effective 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027. Source: GOV.UK: rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027; GOV.UK: Welsh income tax. Checked 21 October 2026.
Scottish income tax 2026/27
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| Starter rate | £12,571 to £16,537: 19% |
| Basic rate | £16,538 to £29,526: 20% |
| Intermediate rate | £29,527 to £43,662: 21% |
| Higher rate | £43,663 to £75,000: 42% |
| Advanced rate | £75,001 to £125,140: 45% |
| Top rate | Over £125,140: 48% |
Effective 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027. Source: Scottish Government: Scottish income tax rates and bands 2026 to 2027; GOV.UK: rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027. Checked 21 October 2026.
Employee National Insurance 2026/27
| Earnings | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to the primary threshold | £12,570 a year: 0% |
| Primary threshold to upper earnings limit | £12,570 to £50,270: 8% |
| Above the upper earnings limit | Over £50,270: 2% |
Effective 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027. Source: GOV.UK: rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027; HMRC National Insurance Manual NIM02365: superannuation contributions. Checked 21 October 2026.
Student loan repayments 2026/27
| Plan | Repayment |
|---|---|
| Plan 1 | 9% over £26,900 |
| Plan 2 | 9% over £29,385 |
| Plan 4 (Scotland) | 9% over £33,795 |
| Plan 5 | 9% over £25,000 |
| Postgraduate loan | 6% over £21,000 |
Effective 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027. Source: GOV.UK: rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027. Checked 21 October 2026.
NHS Pension member contributions: England and Wales
| Actual pensionable pay | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £13,259 | 5.2% |
| £13,260 to £28,854 | 6.5% |
| £28,855 to £35,155 | 8.3% |
| £35,156 to £52,778 | 9.8% |
| £52,779 to £67,668 | 10.7% |
| £67,669 and above | 12.5% |
Effective 1 April 2026. Source: NHS Business Services Authority: how much does it cost to be in the scheme. Checked 21 October 2026.
NHS Pension member contributions: Scotland (Table 2)
| Actual pensionable pay | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £13,330 | 5.7% |
| £13,331 to £28,987 | 6.4% |
| £28,988 to £34,302 | 7% |
| £34,303 to £43,038 | 8.7% |
| £43,039 to £45,134 | 9.8% |
| £45,135 to £54,862 | 10.5% |
| £54,863 to £59,369 | 11.2% |
| £59,370 to £83,026 | 11.6% |
| £83,027 and above | 12.7% |
Effective 1 April 2026. Source: Scottish Public Pensions Agency: NHS employee contribution tier bandings from 1 April 2026 (circular 2026/03). Checked 21 October 2026.
High Cost Area Supplement (England)
| Area | Supplement |
|---|---|
| Inner LondonMinimum £5,794, maximum £8,746 a year | 20% of basic salaryMinimum £5,794, maximum £8,746 a year |
| Outer LondonMinimum £4,870, maximum £6,137 a year | 15% of basic salaryMinimum £4,870, maximum £6,137 a year |
| FringeMinimum £1,346, maximum £2,270 a year | 5% of basic salaryMinimum £1,346, maximum £2,270 a year |
Effective 1 April 2026. Source: NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook v63, Annex 9: High cost area supplements; NHS Employers: pay scales for 2026/27. Checked 21 October 2026.
Unsocial hours enhancements
| Band | Saturday and weekday nights / Sunday and public holidays |
|---|---|
| England and Wales, Band 2 | +41% / +83% |
| England and Wales, Band 3 | +35% / +69% |
| England and Wales, Band 4 to 9 | +30% / +60% |
| Scotland, Band 2 | +44% / +88% |
| Scotland, Band 3 | +37% / +74% |
| Scotland, Band 4 to 9 | +30% / +60% |
Effective In force in 2026/27 (handbook v63). Source: NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook v63, Section 2: Maintaining round the clock services; NHS Employers: unsocial hours payments. Checked 21 October 2026.
Agenda for Change 2026/27: Wales and Scotland entry points
| Band | Wales (37.5 hours) / Scotland (36 hours) |
|---|---|
| Band 2 | £26,300 / £26,696 |
| Band 3 | £26,300 / £29,103 |
| Band 4 | £28,819 / £31,537 |
| Band 5 | £32,557 / £34,544 |
| Band 6 | £40,559 / £43,231 |
| Band 7 | £50,129 / £52,845 |
| Band 8a | £58,379 / £65,125 |
| Band 8b | £67,583 / £76,888 |
| Band 8c | £80,698 / £90,808 |
| Band 8d | £95,773 / £107,810 |
| Band 9 | £114,475 / £127,521 |
Effective 1 April 2026. Source: Welsh Government: Pay Letter AfC(W) 02/2026, Agenda for Change pay scales 2026/27; Scottish Government: NHS Circular PCS(AFC)2026/1, Agenda for Change pay 2026/27. Checked 21 October 2026.
Agenda for Change 2026/27: England
| Band | Entry to top point |
|---|---|
| Band 2 | £25,272 |
| Band 3 | £25,760 to £27,476 |
| Band 4 | £28,392 to £31,157 |
| Band 5 | £32,073 to £39,043 |
| Band 6 | £39,959 to £48,117 |
| Band 7 | £49,387 to £56,515 |
| Band 8a | £57,528 to £64,750 |
| Band 8b | £66,582 to £77,368 |
| Band 8c | £79,504 to £91,609 |
| Band 8d | £94,356 to £108,814 |
| Band 9 | £112,782 to £129,783 |
Effective 1 April 2026. Source: NHS Employers: pay scales for 2026/27. Checked 21 October 2026.
FAQ
Questions about NHS take-home pay
About £2,040.21 a month in England at the Band 5 entry point of £32,073, full time, in the NHS Pension Scheme and with no student loan. That is after £3,368.19 income tax, £1,560.24 National Insurance and £2,662.06 pension a year. Band 6 entry (£39,959) comes to about £2,429.78 a month on the same basis.
In England and Wales members pay 5.2% to 12.5% of pensionable pay from 1 April 2026, depending on the tier. The rate applies to all of your pensionable pay, not just the part above a threshold, and the tier is set by your actual pay, so part-time staff are placed by what they earn. Band 5 entry pay of £32,073 is in the 8.3% tier.
It is taken off before income tax, so you get tax relief at your top rate straight away. It is not taken off before National Insurance: HMRC says National Insurance is worked out on gross earnings before any pension contributions. The calculator follows both rules.
Yes. Wales uses its own pay letter (AfC(W) 02/2026) on a 37.5-hour week. Scotland uses NHS Circular PCS(AFC)2026/1 on a 36-hour week, the NHS Superannuation Scheme (Scotland) tiers and, if you live there, Scottish income tax. Band 5 entry in Scotland (£34,544) comes to about £2,167.21 a month with Scottish tax rates.
The enhancement is a percentage of your basic hourly rate: for Bands 4 to 9, 30% for Saturdays and weekday nights (8pm to 6am) and 60% for Sundays and public holidays. The hourly rate is annual basic pay divided by 52.143 weeks and then by the full-time weekly hours, which matches the hourly rates NHS Employers publishes. The High Cost Area Supplement is not included in the hourly rate.
It is the High Cost Area Supplement. In 2026/27 inner London pays 20% of basic salary, at least £5,794 and at most £8,746 a year; outer London pays 15% and the fringe 5%, with their own limits. It is pensionable, so it can move you into a higher pension tier.
New arrivals often start on an emergency tax code, and a first month can be part of a month. Salary sacrifice schemes, overtime, bank shifts and pay award arrears change the figures too. The calculator shows a full year on a standard tax code; check your payslip with your payroll team and HMRC if the code looks wrong.
Not yet. Northern Ireland Health and Social Care pay scales for 2026/27 were not published when we checked, and the HSC Pension Scheme has its own rates. Doctors and dentists are not on Agenda for Change bands, so the calculator does not cover their pay.
Sources
Where the figures come from
- 1GOV.UK: rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027
- 2Scottish Government: Scottish income tax rates and bands 2026 to 2027
- 3HMRC National Insurance Manual NIM02365: superannuation contributions
- 4NHS Business Services Authority: how much does it cost to be in the scheme
- 5Scottish Public Pensions Agency: NHS employee contribution tier bandings from 1 April 2026 (circular 2026/03)
- 6NHS Employers: pay scales for 2026/27
Show all 12 sourcesShow fewer sources
- 7Welsh Government: Pay Letter AfC(W) 02/2026, Agenda for Change pay scales 2026/27
- 8Scottish Government: NHS Circular PCS(AFC)2026/1, Agenda for Change pay 2026/27
- 9NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook v63, Annex 9: High cost area supplements
- 10NHS Employers: unsocial hours payments
- 11NHS Staff Council co-chairs: statement on Agenda for Change pay structure reform negotiations (21 April 2026)
- 12Department of Health Northern Ireland
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